villa vs deluxe resort

[buzlite]

My family of 6 adults is taking out first family vacation because of growing up and not seeing each other very often so we would like to go on the disney trip we always planned as children that we were always to busy to go on. I've been to disney before so I'm in charge of the resort. I can't decide between a bay lake villa with 2 bedrooms with or without disney sit down regular dining plan or 2 rooms at polynesion with dining plan (sit down). I've heard that you are left to your own at the villa's and treated as a second class citizen. From lack of bellhops to the towers to no workers being found in the building. IS this true? Also is the dining plan worth it. I would like it because I have found all inclusive so much more relaxing then non all inclusives where I debate if i want to get that steak or just live off pizza. My parents love walking and I love a pool with server's walking around to make drink orders. Maybe AKL lodge would be a good option but it seems very out of the way. In the past I have stayed at only the GF but it is must to expensive for 6 people and 2 rooms plus the construction.

 

[TwistGrl101]

I think you should also look into the Yacht Club and Boardwalk Inn. You may be able to get free dining, depending on when you go.
My opinion is that if you go with the dining plan, stick with the 2 rooms. If you don't choose the dining plan, go with the villa, so you would actually make use of the kitchen.

 

[DebbieB]

My family of 6 adults is taking out first family vacation because of growing up and not seeing each other very often so we would like to go on the disney trip we always planned as children that we were always to busy to go on. I've been to disney before so I'm in charge of the resort. I can't decide between a bay lake villa with 2 bedrooms with or without disney sit down regular dining plan or 2 rooms at polynesion with dining plan (sit down). I've heard that you are left to your own at the villa's and treated as a second class citizen. From lack of bellhops to the towers to no workers being found in the building. IS this true? Also is the dining plan worth it. I would like it because I have found all inclusive so much more relaxing then non all inclusives where I debate if i want to get that steak or just live off pizza. My parents love walking and I love a pool with server's walking around to make drink orders. Maybe AKL lodge would be a good option but it seems very out of the way. In the past I have stayed at only the GF but it is must to expensive for 6 people and 2 rooms plus the construction.

I've been a DVC member over 12 years and never felt like a second class citizen. I was just at BWV earlier this month, plenty of bellhops and housekeepers around. If you book through CRO, you get daily housekeeping just like any hotel.

 

[Mrs K]

I would do two rooms at the Poly and get the dining plan. We are in the planning stages for summer 2013 and that's what we are leaning towards.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Bay Lake Tower is a Disney Vacation Club resort, Disney's version of a timeshare. It was reported recently that BLT is sold out, meaning 95-97% of the villas are owned by DVC members. That doesn't leave much for cash reservations through Disney Reservation Center. You can add any inventory that BLT members trade out for non-DVC Disney vacations like the DCL (DVC turns the points that represent the non-DVC vacation to DRC to sell to pay for the non-DVC vacation).

If you book BLT through DVC (a points stay or cash stay through DVC not DRC), then you get treated like a timeshare member. Timeshare try to keep member fees down because nothing is free. Members pay for it all. So if you give each villa two extra towels, members will wind up paying for this. That's why if you want daily cleaning at a DVC resort, you will pay for each of those extra cleanings. As a member of DVC, a points stay will get trash and towels replaced and trash removed on day four of a seven night or less stay. If the member stays at least eight nights, on day four the member will get a full cleaning and trash and towel service on day eight.

However, like Debbie B said, if you book a cash stay at a DVC resort through DRC, you will get full daily cleaning. Bell Services is available to help you at BLT and at any DVC resort. You can order room service with any DVC connected to a hotel (Old Key West and Saratoga Springs don't have room service).

But the dining plan is not an all inclusive plan. There are none of these at WDW. The dining plans still require that you make advanced dining reservations (ADRs) if you want to dine at any table service restaurant. Otherwise, you may be shut out. The Cast Member walking around taking food and drink orders at the pools will expect a room ID (or Key to the World) to pay for those. I don't think you can use dining plan credits by waving your hand at one of these CMs to bring you something.

If you decide on BLT and are able to book it, who gets the master bedroom with the king sized bed? Who gets the one or two queen beds (two in a dedicated two bedroom, one plus a double sleeper sofa in a lockoff) in the second bedroom? Who gets the queen sized sleeper sofa in the living room? That's something you'll need to decide before you go.

 

[ThumpersWorld]

We just came back from our first trip as DVC owners at the BWV and the BCV and I have never had such excellent service. I agree with the other poster in that bell services and housekeeping were amazing. We had a split stay and it was so easy to transfer resorts. It was so easy that we plan to do it again on our next trip.

 

[buzlite]

I should probably be more specific the prices for both are pretty similar and I understand its not an all inclusive but the dining plan would force us to relax and not worry about whether or not we want to live of pizza and cereal for the week. Also for the pool drink service i understand you have to pay but are their waiters walking around that I can hand my key to the world card and have bring me drinks or do I have to walk to the bar. I was just wondering wether you believe the dining plan is grossly over priced and whether the bay lake tower service is as good as Polynesians. We are going in september also. Also for the bedrooms that won't be a problem from what my family says no one cares and my brother plans to sleep on the couch. Go figure... I guess I am just wondering if we decide to stay at bay lake whether we will feel attended to. I want to book by monday so any help is appreciated!

 

[Sammie]

I don't think second class citizen is probably the best way to describe it but yes, DVC and Disney deluxe is not the same.

And it is different at each property. Yes at BLT, if you need the service of a Front Desk you will have to go from the tower over to the main lobby of the Contemporary resort. Same with bell services. You have access to them but they are stationed in the lobby of the Contemporary.

Also food and shopping for BLT is in the Contemporary is as check in.

So yes in some ways it is isolated more so than say the Villas at the Boardwalk which was constructed at the same time as the Inn as one big resort.

I agree that two rooms at the Yacht or Beach Club or Boardwalk Inn or a 2 bedroom villa at either Beach Club villas or Boardwalk villas would probably be more in the line of the inclusive feel you want.

With 6 adults I personally would want to be in the Epcot area over the Magic Kingdom area. If you do get the dining plan you will have a huge selection of restaurants very close by.

 

[lions1995]

I will comment on the dining plan. There are a few plans to choose from QS (quick service) DP (Dining Plan) and the DDP (Deluxe dining plan). Details can be found at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan .
If you are cosidering a plan that included sit down (DP or DDP) I would suggest you make your reservations on line now to see if you can get what you want. You can make the reservations now and add the dining plan later. A few places will ask for a credit card if you do not have the dining plan at the time of reservation. Once you get there, they will still ask if you are on the dining plan and your card will not be charged.

As to the value in the dining plan. I have always used it for my family (though next time we go my duaghters will be "adults" and I will probably have to rethink the cost). I rhink if you use the plan wisely - eat at the best places and go for the steak and not the salad, you will save money. But that ALL requires a lot of research and planning to maximize your plan. It is also nice to have a nice chunk of your vacation cost paid for before arriving, so it is convient.

AS for the pool attendant, I do not recall ever being to a WDW location where an attendant walks around. I have always had to get up and go to the bar. (Just my experience)

 

[jojomoore]

HI, I have stayed at 3 Deluxe Villa Resorts or Disney Vacation Club resorts (DVC)- OKW in a 2 bedroom villa with extended family, and in AKV-Kindani and BCV in studio rooms with my immediate family. Here are my observations:

When staying DVC or in the villas instead of main resort there are differences because DVC owners are responsible for much of the expense of these resorts. If you are staying on a cash reservation at a DVC resort you will still receive daily trash service, towel service and house keeping. If you rent points to stay at DVC then you will receive it on your 4th day or you can pay for these services daily.

DVC villas tend to be more quite, peaceful, secluded than main deluxe resort. And you can rent a 2 bedroom villa which is nice when staying with extended family because there is no concern about trying to get adjoining rooms and you can stay together and visit and discuss plans, etc. However, to access quickservice resturants usually you will have to travel to main resort. AT BCV and i believe at BLT the concierge desk will be in main resort building, so if you need information or need to change dining reservations you will need to walk to main building to do this. I have tried calling front desk from room and never get help but every time i have visited concierge desk in person they seem to bend over backwards to help me.

Just so you know, from my experience, WDW resorts CMs do not meet you at the door and take your bags to your room or walk around the pool asking for drink orders.There are pool bars where you can place your order for drinks and have as many as you wish. You can charge them to your key to the world card and pay for them at the end of your trip. If you store bags with bell services, I believe they will bring them to you but i prefer to carry them myself rather than waiting on them to be delivered to my room. Im always wanting to go and do and see as soon as i get there. When i stayed at AKV and BCV i did online check in and therefore Check-in at the resorts only took a few minutes and at BCV Cms were set up outside the front door to check us in and give us our key to the world cards and send us on our way. We did however need to go to the front desk and buy theme park tickets to put on our cards before we went to our room. CMs are generally very helpful.

If you want to eat at WDW restaurants, most require advance reservations and may require a credit card number to reserve them. You can make ADRs up to 6 months before your travel dates and some fill up fast. If you decided to do dining plan make sure to make Advance Reservations or you may not be able to use your dining credits. Some restaurants require 1 credit per person some but some require two credits. allears.net, disneyworldresorts.com, and disboards.com has a world of information to help you plan your trip.

Some Deluxe resorts, such as the polynesian, and the grand floridian, and Contemporary have buildings spread out over the property, so you may still have a walk to the main building for the front desk, TS and QS restaurants. AKL, YC, BC, BWI, WL, have rooms located in one building. OKW and SSR also have rooms spread out over property so that main amenities are away from room.

I think that when choosing between the Poly and BLT, I would make the decision based on which atmosphere speaks to you the most and whether or not you want to share a room with your family members and go from there. The polynesian longhouses are spread out over property so there could be as long of a walk to main building, TTC, and pools as is from BLT to Contemporary. Staying at a MK resort would most likely be the most magical experience for your family since this is a once in a lifetime trip for your group as a whole. AKL was wonderful. It was serene and like being in another world but it is away from MK and Epcot resort areas. Buses were very quick though and exept for stopping at Jambo house went straight to each park. THere are Two bedroom villas on the upper two floors in the main Animal Kingdom Lodge house. Its called Animal Kingdom Villa - Jambo. I have found that AKL if a favorite among children though.

Deciding where to stay is the hardest decision of all.

 

[francie57]

We have been staying at the BWVs and BCVs for years now. We book through AAA (which books through Disney). We have always had terrific service and housekeeping. I personally would go with the villa for the extra room, the kitchen, and the w/d. We use the kitchen for a quick breakfast in the morning and to have snacks and drinks (both alcohol and non) easily available. Is anyone in your group a member of AAA - if there is no other room discount available you could try AAA for theirs. We have booked through AAA and use the dining plan. We love the dining plan since we like to have a sit down dinner each day and love trying different places at disney mostly in Epcot. For us we love the Epcot Resorts the best (we have stayed at all the monorail resorts) since you have easy access to two parks and all the restaurants in the area. No matter what you decide, you won't be disappointed and you definitely won't feel like a second class citizen. Not sure if BLT is the same, but with the BW and BC the villas and inns check-in at the exact same location and there are always plenty of people there to help with anything you need.